Slush Puppies and Snow Dogs: The Wired Cars of Winter

Winter is here, which for many of us means snow. And slush. And sleet. Driving under such conditions can be, shall we say, challenging, without the proper hardware.

Some people are content to tackle the snow in any old heap, but that doesn't mean you need to endure yet another year in your clapped-out Subaru Forester. It's time for an upgrade, and there's no shortage of machinery perfectly suited to hooning ... er, navigating a winter wonderland. Here are 10 cars just ripe for the crappy conditions ahead.

Photo: Ferrari

Audi Allroad

Audi didn't invent all-wheel drive, but it pretty much perfected it. Between its insane Group B rally cars from the '80s and its recent forays into computer-controlled differentials, Audi and AWD have been synonymous for decades. And this year, it has finally brought the much-loved Allroad nameplate back to the U.S.

The all-new Allroad is based on the tried-and-true A4 wagon, which for some inconceivable reason is no longer sold here in the States. What we get instead is a lifted, butched and plastic-clad version with a turbo'd two-liter four. Despite its name, the Allroad isn't actually meant for, well, all roads. Oh sure, it's got a bit of a lift to show off its oh-so-tough stainless steel skid plates, but there's no low-range gearing, no hill-descent control and no height-adjustable suspension. So the Allroad might be better named the AllWeather. It may not win Rally Sweden, but it'll get you where you need to go.

Photo: Audi

Ferrari FF

"A what?!" you say? Before you flame us in the comments, hear us out.

This is no ordinary Ferrari. It's the Ferrari FF, an exotic that's equal parts sleek and silly. It reminds us of one of our favorite BMWs, the equally polarizing (and awesome!) M Coupe. But the FF comes with prancing horse pedigree, a glorious 651-horsepower V12 and all-wheel drive. Yes, all-wheel drive. On a Ferrari. It also seats four. And it's a hatchback. We swear, it's the picture of practicality. Well, apart from the $300,000 price tag.

The FF is Ferrari's answer to a problem posed by the dozens (dozens!) of Ferrari owners who opined (whined?) that they couldn't take their 599 to the Alps. We suspect the real problem was they were tired of seeing photos of Lamborghinis with ski racks.

Photo: Ferrari

Jeep Wrangler

No winter list is complete without the inclusion of a Jeep, even if the moribund line-up of one of America's most iconic brands has only one true "Jeep" left in the pack.

The Wrangler comes with two or four doors, packs a V6 that predates dinosaurs and could take a shotgun blast or two and still tackle the Rubicon trail while winching lesser machines out of trouble. It's not sexy, it's not refined and it's about as exciting as a tax audit, but the Wrangler gets the job done with the brutal efficiency you'd expect of a war-born off-roader.

Photo: Jeep

Mazda CX-5

The anemic four-cylinder is underpowered. You can only get the manual transmission in the front-wheel-drive model. And the hatch is only suitable for a post-op Pomeranian. But the Mazda CX-5 is hands down our favorite small SUV. The steering is tight and communicative. The interior is a no-nonsense office. And it drives better than any wagon-on-stilts has business to. Throw in AWD and you've got one of the best handling, bargain 'utes available with a sticker price just under $23k.

Photo: Mazda

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon

Sure, you can get the Mercedes E-Class in sedan guise with Benz' 4Matic system, but why not just pony up the extra cash (around $6,000) for the added utility of a wagon and standard AWD? Not only that, but as far as luxed-up wagons go, the E is in a class of its own, with a smooth-spinning V6, high-end appointments and a ride that's as good or better than ultra-sedans costing twice as much. Add in the fact that you can get rear-facing jump seats in the hatch, and your kids enjoy the same motion sickness you did in the back of the Wagon Queen Family Truckster on the twisting roads to Grandma's house.

Photo: Mercedes-Benz

Mini Paceman Hatchback

Want a Mini without the 'mini'? A wagon, without the practicality? A once-famous British brand re-imagined by Germans? Have we got a car for you. It's called the Paceman and it's yet another in a long line of daftly conceived products born in BMW's branding-induced haze to fill every conceivable niche, including those no one knew existed.

The Paceman is based on the Countryman psuedo-SUV that's been languishing on dealer lots for the past two years, and comes complete with Mini's All4 AWD system shuttering and shaking to get power to the real wheels when traction gets iffy. We're oddly fond of high-riding coupes, and this is the first one that's come to production since the wonderfully awful Isuzu Vehicross — and we suspect the Paceman's life will be just as short, if not shorter. Too bad. It's utterly unique, if somewhat weird, and that makes it pretty cool to us.

Photo: Mini

Nissan GT-R

The Nissan GT-R is a rolling Cray computer. It does things to racetracks that are illegal in most of the civilized world. But its super-sticky, circuit-friendly rubber is death in the snow. That's an easy fix. Throw on some Blizzaks at each corner, dial up the snow setting on the ultra-advanced AWD system and you've got a computer-controlled sleigh that'll make Santa's midnight run around the planet seem like a snail race on sandpaper.

Photo: Nissan

Porsche Cayenne

With seven models to choose from, you can't go wrong in the winter with the Porsche Cayenne. Diesel, hybrid, V6, V8 – even the Turbo S is enough to make the brand's most ardent purists nod in admiration. And spare us that BS about it not being a real Porsche. Drive one. You'll see.

It might look like a suppository, but slip inside and it's a leather-lined cocoon nestled within a surprisingly competent all-season runner. We've even taken it off-road and into the hills and came away convinced that it's one of the best-handling SUVs on the market.

Photo: Porsche

Volvo S60 T6 R-Design

The world is overrun with BMW 3 Series and Audi A4s. They're the de facto ride for middle managers with an expense account and a ladder to climb. But standing out from that pack isn't the reason we recommend the new Volvo S60 R-Design. It's a damn fine driver that's better-looking inside and out than nearly anything from Germany.

Volvo's racy "R" branding went away a few years ago, but with the new S60, the Swedes have brought it back with the help of the tuning maestros at Mountune. That means more power, more torque, a ride that balances supple and sport, and an advanced all-wheel-drive system that carries Volvo's safety tradition forward into the 21st century.

Photo: Volvo

Anything From Subaru (Save the BRZ)

Subaru = all-wheel drive. It's been the automaker's main selling point for nearly two decades, and that lone feature – certainly not the styling – has kept Northeasterners and Seattleites buying Soobies since the dawn of time.

The symmetrical AWD isn't the most sophisticated, eschewing sensors and computers for pure mechanical intuitiveness. But what they lack in sophistication they make up for in rock-solid reliability. And no matter your style or taste, there's a Subaru with your name on it. Need to lug the kids around but wouldn't be caught dead in a minivan or crossover? A Forester awaits you. Want to hoon across a macadam road attempting your best Sébastien Loeb impersonation? Snag a WRX or go completely nuts with the even more rally-focused STI. Just avoid the rolling monstrosity that is the Tribeca. And as much as we love the BRZ, skip that one too unless you want to tell your insurance agent why you Tokyo Drifted into that snowbank.